Deadline approaches for new health and safety poster21 February 2014

Although from next April, all UK workplaces are required by law to display an updated health and safety law poster, many organisations appear unaware of this new obligation.

Workplaces have been displaying the current health and safety poster since 1999, as part of the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER).

However from 5 April 2014, all workplaces will need to have the newly designed poster in place. In addition, a new pocket card has been produced to replace the health and safety leaflets for employees based off-site.

"We've been selling the updated poster since it was first unveiled, but we know from our regular site visits that lots of organisations are still using the old poster," says Lee Wright, marketing director at Slinsgby. "And the majority of these are unaware that these changes are just a few months away so there will be lots that miss the deadline."

And he continues: "The old health and safety law poster is a familiar sight but it's visually unappealing, with too much small text. Despite it being easily recognisable to millions of people, very few have ever read it."

"The new poster is designed to be easy to digest, with less text and it contains colour images which immediately make it more eye catching.

"Another change is that employers are no longer required to write contact details for local enforcing authorities and employment medical advisory services on the new poster. Instead there's a helpline that employees can call with any queries."

Lee adds: "Another development on the new poster is that each one includes a hologram and serial number in the bottom right corner to certify that it's genuine because even health and safety posters can fall victim to counterfeiters."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
HC Slingsby plc
Health & Safety Executive

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